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Ouachita had a simple solution to anything Ruston tried to do on Friday night — put the ball in quarterback Devion Warren’s hands.

Good things tend to happen when Warren is involved. But there wasn’t much going on in the way of negativity when anyone from Ouachita touched the ball in a crucial District 2-5A game with playoff seeding at stake.

Warren ran for three touchdowns and even caught another as the Lions (5-3, 2-1) buried the Bearcats (5-4) beneath a barrage of points and turnovers inside the Lion’s Den in a 48-21 win.

“Catching a touchdown pass is a little new for me but we were able to get all our playmakers the ball and that’s a good thing,” Warren said. “The coaches challenged us this week to come out here and play hard so that’s what we did.”

Even Ouachita’s defense got in on the act after safety Angelo Collins scooped up Ruston quarterback Cade Gibson’s fumble and raced 89 yards for a defensive score in the third quarter.

“I’m fired up for our guys— they’re so excited,” Ouachita head coach Jeff Fitzgerald said. “Coming into it all we hear is how great everybody else is, and Ruston is a good football team, but I love my Lions.

“They came out fighting from the very beginning and the biggest thing is they believe in each other.”

Ruston turned the ball over six times, four of which led to Ouachita touchdowns. Qayshon Thurman’s 17 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns was about the only bright spot for the Bearcats.

“There were several opportunities and plays tonight we didn’t make and give Ouachita credit for doing that,” Ruston head coach Brad Laird said. “This one will test your character a little bit and we’ve got to rebound next week.”

Two long touchdown runs from Warren covering 47 and 38 yards gave Ouachita a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Warren’s presence opened the field up for the Lions to turn to Lewis and Jones.

Jones’ 17-yard run on the jet sweep put Ruston in a 21-0 hole at the 8:24-mark of the second quarter.

Offensive coordinator Andy Robinson went deep in the playbook for Ouachita’s next score. Set up by Lewis’ running, Jones took another handoff and lofted a 4-yard pass to a wide open Warren in the end zone.

Ruston found a way to salvage seven points on its last possession of the first half when Gibson found Markquez Corprue for a 2-yard score.

Ouachita was able to tack on another touchdown before the end of the half by going eight plays in 80 yards, capped by Warren’s 1-yard run on the quarterback sneak.

The Lions close the regular season next Thursday at home against Pineville. Ruston will host its senior night festivities next Friday with Natchitoches Central.